Wisconsin PFAS Action Council · 2020. 7. 16. · Topic 2: PFAS Updates COVID-19 paused WisPAC’swork to coordinate state efforts Individual agencies continued their work Coming

WisconsinPFAS Action Council

JUNE 17, 2020

Agenda

▪Welcome and recap

▪Overview of revised timeline

▪PFAS-related updates from state agencies

▪Engaging in draft plan material review/approval

▪Public Input

Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) 2

PFAS Action Plan


WisPAC Recap


Office of Emerging Contaminants

Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC)5

PFAS Administration and Operations

Created Office of Emerging Contaminants

• Policy Director

• Technical Operations Coordinator

• Communications and Public Engagement Coordinator

• Logistics Coordinator

• PFAS Researchers (2)

Hired:

Multi-program effort

Topic 1: New Timeline - PROPOSED


Topic 2: PFAS Updates

▪COVID-19 paused WisPAC’s work to coordinate state efforts

▪ Individual agencies continued their work

Coming up: updates from DNR, DHS, UW System and other agencies with information to share


DNR Update

Great Lakes PFAS Task Force

▪DNR is leader on coordinating other Great Lakes States

▪State Directors’ calls on quarterly basis (Group 1)

▪State agency PFAS coordinators’ calls monthly (Group 2)

▪PFAS topic area groups:

Air: led by Michigan

Wildlife and fish: led by federal FWL, with WDNR

Bio solids/land spreading: led by Minnesota


DNR Update

Supporting Public Health

▪Standards Development→Groundwater

→Drinking water

→Surface water

▪Fish Advisories


DNR Update

Research

▪Partnerships→UW Madison

→State Lab of Hygiene

▪Highlighted Topics→Biosolids

→Air deposition

→Water and fisho UW Sea Grant – Lake Michigan


DNR Update

Drafting PFAS Guidance on:

▪Biosolids and PFAS

▪Effective disposal of PFAS waste

▪BMPs and FAQs for AFFF and fire departments


DNR Update

Wis Stat § 299.48 - PFAS Firefighting Foam

▪ On September 1, prohibits the use of firefighting foams that contain intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for:

→Training, or

→Testing, unless with appropriate secondary containment, treatment, storage, or disposal measures.

▪ On 9/1, flushing, draining or otherwise discharging foam into storm or sanitary sewer is prohibited

▪ Continues to allow PFAS-containing foam to be used for emergency response

▪ DNR is required to write emergency & permanent rules:

→Preliminary public hearing held June 4th

→June NRB for scope statement approval


DHS Update


UW System Update

▪Research→UW Campuses closed mid-March, limited research beginning mid-

June

→Collaborative proposals submitted – still pending

▪Communications and Outreach→PFAS Summit (April 9-10) was cancelled

o One day for UW researchers, one day for UW researchers + state agencies

→Water@UW Symposium (May 5) held virtuallyo Panel with Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality (Representatives Todd Novak and

Katrina Shankland

o Session on PFAS: Remucal (UW), Schauer (WSLH), Zellmer (DNR)

o 400+ attendees


DVA Update

15Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC)

Other State Agency Updates

Time held for other agencies in attendance that might have a PFAS-related update to provide


Topic 3: Reviewing/Approving Draft Plan Material


Next meeting July 16

Plan Content

• WisPAC Issue Papers

• External Advisory Group Issue Papers

• External Advisory Group Comparison Papers

• Any missed perspectives

Plan Organization

WisPAC Issue Papers Advisory Group Recommendations Public Input

1 2 3

WisPAC to decide which items to carry forward & do a check for other perspectives

Gap analysis shows lots of good overlap but some ideas /themes not identified by WisPAC

Ideas & recommendations gathered from key informants

??

WisPAC Issue Papers

Action Item Index / Theme Index

▪Currently 40+ Issue Papers

▪11 themes / 4 Action Categories

▪How to organize?→Buckets

→Themes

→Hybrid (themes but keep bucket info)


4 Previously Agreed Upon WisPACAction Categories


Preventing Future Discharges and Exposures

Inventorying and Minimizing Current PFAS

Exposures

Identifying and Addressing Historic or Legacy PFAS

Discharges or Exposures

Educating and Communicating About Risks

Associated with PFAS

Examples of Themes:

▪Firefighting Foam

▪Environmental Standard Setting

▪Guidance Development

▪Pollution Prevention & Education

▪Sampling

▪Research

▪Etc.


Advisory Group Recommendations

▪Local Government Advisory Group→Issue/Problem Statement

→Recommendation

▪Citizen Advisory Group→Overview

→Overall Recommendations

→Community Engagement Recommendations

→Actionable Information


Gap Analysis: Local Gov’t Group


Focus 1: Preventing Future Discharges/Exposure

Phase Out

Requiring confirmation testing for manufacturers

Tools for local governments (e.g. model industrial user survey, ordinances)


Focus 2: Inventorying & Minimizing Current PFAS Exposure

▪Licensing program for FDs→H&S plan

→Inventory of PFAS foam & cleanup plan

→Report & contract for cleanups

→Exemptions for Class B fires

▪Plan to assist LGUs in IDing PFAS sources




Focus 3: IDing & Addressing Historic or Legacy PFAS Discharges & Exposures

Interim soil & groundwater standards –consider emergency rules


Focus 4: Educating, Engaging, & Communicating PFAS Risks

▪Centralized web page (all state agencies)

▪Local government toolbox:→Model press releases, advisories, social

media, text alerts, public messaging, fact sheets, FAQs, graphics, etc.



Other

▪Verifiable analytical methods→Wisconsin DNR is already in the process of

certifying labs for PFAS analysis for various matrices.


10 minute break


10 9 8 7 6

5 4 3 2 1

Gap Analysis: Citizen Group

Focus 1: Preventing Future Discharges/Exposure

▪Greater flexibility to address additional PFAS compounds

▪Consider full PFAS ban (also proposed by Local Gov’t Group)

▪Flexibility to address additional emerging contaminants



Focus 2: Inventorying & Minimizing Current PFAS Exposure

▪ Encouraging EPA to address toxicology

▪Allow local governments to set & implement more restrictive standards

▪Consider impacts of federal or state preemption of state or local standards, respectively

▪Consider opportunities for municipalities to exercise emergency powers to address specific concerns

▪Consider additional measures to develop means for inventorying PFAS exposure risks



Focus 3: IDing & Addressing Historic or Legacy PFAS Discharges & Exposures

▪Municipalities should set more stringent standard than state (similar to action in Focus 2)

▪Guidance re: liability (state vs. RP)

▪Guidance on VPLE liability

▪ Identify priority chemicals and uses

▪ Identify how to manage impacted building materials & cleanup residue

▪Address gaps resulting from fact that PFAS is not a CERCLA hazardous substance & outside scope of ASTM Phase I ESA



Focus 4: Educating, Engaging, & Communicating PFAS Risks

Re-name to “Public Stakeholder Engagement” –two way communication

Prioritize communication re: avoidance of exposure

Move quickly & consistently to prevent exposure (signs, media, etc.)

Public Input Survey

▪Ban PFAS altogether

▪Highlighting concerns about specific sites

▪Food safety issues associated with PFAS


Action Plan Outline

▪Executive Summary

▪PFAS 101

▪Summary of Actions To Date

▪ Intro to WisPAC

▪Building the Plan→Timeline (original vs. modified)

→Input: Advisory Groups & Public

→Using the Input (new/modify/nothing)


Action Plan Outline

▪Recommendations (majority of report)

1. Principles that apply to all actions

2. Specific actions (see next slide)

3. Other actions to promote

▪Advisory Group Papers & Comparisons

▪Appendices→Public Comments

→Original WisPAC Issue Papers



Action Items

What comes next (in-between work)

1. Review WisPAC issue papers + provide comments

2. Review advisory group recommendations + gap analysis

Opportunity to identify unheard perspectives and prepare proposals on how to engage them and whether to incorporate into final phases of Action Plan development,

3. Review current Action Plan Outline + offer feedback

4. Provide your agency’s PFAS actions highlights and accomplishments to include in report


Next Meeting: WisPACJuly 16

Main purpose of July 16th meeting is to:

▪Approve issue papers for inclusion in draft plan, proposing modifications as needed

+ Commit to any action required to close gaps between external perspectives and the existing recommendations

▪Approve draft PFAS Action Plan outline


What comes next

DNR Office of Emerging Contaminants Contacts:

Mimi Johnson, Director

[email protected]

Tel. 608 590 7287

Jason Lowery, Technical Operations Coordinator

[email protected]

Tel. 608 228 4737


Public Comment Opportunity

▪Public welcome to provide suggestions, information or other input to WisPAC

▪“Raise Hand” and you’ll be unmuted to ask your question

OR

▪Written submissions welcome via the comment function in Zoom


Meeting Adjourned

▪Please join us July 16th, 2020

▪Check web site:

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/contaminants/wispac.html

THANK YOU!


https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/contaminants/wispac.html

Documents

Wisconsin PFAS Action Council · 2020. 7. 16. · Topic 2: PFAS Updates COVID-19 paused WisPAC’swork to coordinate state efforts Individual agencies continued their work Coming